Next of Kin (and relationship): Patrick Griffin (Father)
Date of enlistment: September 12th, 1941
City and province of enlistment: Vancouver, B.C.
Essay
Lest We Forget: Terence James Griffin
World War II was one of the largest, most gruesome wars in the world’s recent history. Millions of brave men fought and died in hope that one day the rest of the world would be able to live in peace. One of these brave men, Terence Griffin, enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F) on September 12, 1941. Terence’s life went from sports and photography to flying planes and fighting a war. He, along with the rest of these brave soldiers, has the rest of the world’s gratitude and respect for their commitment, service, and sacrifice.Before enlisting in 1941, Terence Griffin was your average Canadian. He attended St. Paul’s College for his high school education, where he enjoyed playing hockey, football, and baseball. After he graduated from St. Paul’s, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Living in Vancouver, B.C., this five foot ten, 129 pound, Roman Catholic man was an amateur photographer and a full time sales clerk. Terence's attendance at St. Paul's, as well as his participation in various sports would have given him a great head start when going to enlist with the R.C.A.F. In sports he would have learned how to be tough and how to deal with pain and stressful situations. At St. Paul's, you learn how to follow instructions, and how to act towards higher authority. Even by deciding to enlist to go to war, Terence showed great maturity and courage. This maturity and courage is something that we are missing in our society today. Back in 1941, young men were stepping up to go to war even when they knew they were going to die, just for the fact that it was the right thing to do. If there was another world war tomorrow, our society would not have as many men and women volunteering to give up they're lives to fight. When he enlisted with the R.C.A.F in 1941, his entire life changed. (Military Records)After enlisting, Terence would have gone through a vigorous training program before he was able to fight. All of the recruits to the R.C.A.F. went to a Manning Depot for a four week posting where they would be instructed of the basics of military life. Upon completing this four-week posting, they would go to an Initial Training School where they would learn other important skills for their new job. These would include mathematics, navigation, and aerodynamics, among other important subjects. After Terence got through this phase, he was deemed fit to enter into an Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS). At this school, he went through an eight week course where he would have gotten about 50 hours of flight time, practicing basic flying techniques and navigation in single engine planes. After Terence graduated from the EFTS, he was posted to a Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Here he improved his navigation skill, worked on mastering his instrument and night flying skills, and participating in formation flying exercises. At the SFTS, Terence would have learned to fly a twin-engine plane as well. After completing his training at the SFTS, Terence would have been fully equipped to continue training at an Operational Training Unit, which were normally in Britain (Bomber Command Museum of Canada).Once Terrence had finished his training, he was prepared to join in the fight. He was posted to the 51 Squadron of the R.A.F. The 51 Squadron was involved in many different battles throughout the war. The 51 Squadron’s main purpose during the Second World War was as a night-bomber squadron. On the first night of the war, the 51 Squadron made a raid over Germany. This was the first of many times that the 51 squadron would penetrate the German defenses. By the time Terence joined up with the 51 Squadron, they had already participated in many bombings in the war. One notable operation, which Terence may have participated in, was Operation Biting, which was led by Wing Commander PC Pickard. In this operation, the 51 Squadron “captured a captured a complete Wurzburg radar installation at Bruneval, near Le Havre” (RAF Bomber Command). In 1942, the 51 Squadron flew anti-submarine patrols, and then later they were transferred to Transport Command until the end of the war. (RAF Bomber Command).On February 4th, 1944, a plane from the 51 Squadron crashed in Sommerfeld, Germany. Terence was on this plane. The official report said, “a four engine bomber crashed on the southern outskirts of the village, alongside the railway-line. Seven bodies were discovered, members of the Luftwaffe removed wreckage and striped the bodies of identification” (Military Records). On this day, Terence James Griffin gave his life for the service and protection of his comrades, family, and everyone else in the world.
Military Service Record
Age (at death): 20
Force: Royal Canadian Air Force
Unit: 51 Squadron RAF
Service Number: R/128921
Honours and Awards:
Photograph:
Next of Kin (and relationship): Patrick Griffin (Father)
Armstrong Whitworth Whitley V - The Plane Flown By The 51 Squadron R.A.F. http://aircraft-list.com/db/images/Armstrong_Whitworth_Whitley/1465/
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal - Medal Given To All Servicemen Who Volunteered In WWII http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group04/cvsm
Terence's Name In The Book Of Remembrance http://www.veterans.gc.ca/images/collections/books/bww2/ww2322.jpg
The main headline in "The Manitoban" a Manitoba newspaper on the date that Terence died, was that the H.M.S. Pinafore was starting in a few days. H.M.S. Pinafore was a theatre production, that was about sailors on a ship, the H.M.S. Pinafore (Lubbock). Often shows were shown on the home front to keep morale up during war time.
On the day Terence died, the US 7th Infantry Division captured Kwajalein. Kwajalein is a small island off the coast of Papua New Guinea, near Japan.
Baxter, Bob, comp. “RAF Medals and Awards.” Bob Baxter’s Bomber Command Index. Bob Baxter, 2006. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.bomber-command.info/medals.htm>.
Bomber Command Museum of Canada. “The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.” Bomber Command Museum of Canada. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/bcatp.html>.
Government Of Canada, comp. “Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.” Veterans Affairs Canada. Government Of Canada, 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group04/cvsm>.
Lubbock, Mark. The Complete Book Of Light Opera. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962. 487-90. Print.
Military Records
Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. N.p., 6 Apr. 2005. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h51.html>.
Table of Contents
R/12892
51 Squadron RAF
Service Personnel Information
Essay
Lest We Forget: Terence James Griffin
World War II was one of the largest, most gruesome wars in the world’s recent history. Millions of brave men fought and died in hope that one day the rest of the world would be able to live in peace. One of these brave men, Terence Griffin, enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force (R.C.A.F) on September 12, 1941. Terence’s life went from sports and photography to flying planes and fighting a war. He, along with the rest of these brave soldiers, has the rest of the world’s gratitude and respect for their commitment, service, and sacrifice.Before enlisting in 1941, Terence Griffin was your average Canadian. He attended St. Paul’s College for his high school education, where he enjoyed playing hockey, football, and baseball. After he graduated from St. Paul’s, he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia. Living in Vancouver, B.C., this five foot ten, 129 pound, Roman Catholic man was an amateur photographer and a full time sales clerk. Terence's attendance at St. Paul's, as well as his participation in various sports would have given him a great head start when going to enlist with the R.C.A.F. In sports he would have learned how to be tough and how to deal with pain and stressful situations. At St. Paul's, you learn how to follow instructions, and how to act towards higher authority. Even by deciding to enlist to go to war, Terence showed great maturity and courage. This maturity and courage is something that we are missing in our society today. Back in 1941, young men were stepping up to go to war even when they knew they were going to die, just for the fact that it was the right thing to do. If there was another world war tomorrow, our society would not have as many men and women volunteering to give up they're lives to fight. When he enlisted with the R.C.A.F in 1941, his entire life changed. (Military Records)After enlisting, Terence would have gone through a vigorous training program before he was able to fight. All of the recruits to the R.C.A.F. went to a Manning Depot for a four week posting where they would be instructed of the basics of military life. Upon completing this four-week posting, they would go to an Initial Training School where they would learn other important skills for their new job. These would include mathematics, navigation, and aerodynamics, among other important subjects. After Terence got through this phase, he was deemed fit to enter into an Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS). At this school, he went through an eight week course where he would have gotten about 50 hours of flight time, practicing basic flying techniques and navigation in single engine planes. After Terence graduated from the EFTS, he was posted to a Service Flying Training School (SFTS). Here he improved his navigation skill, worked on mastering his instrument and night flying skills, and participating in formation flying exercises. At the SFTS, Terence would have learned to fly a twin-engine plane as well. After completing his training at the SFTS, Terence would have been fully equipped to continue training at an Operational Training Unit, which were normally in Britain (Bomber Command Museum of Canada).Once Terrence had finished his training, he was prepared to join in the fight. He was posted to the 51 Squadron of the R.A.F. The 51 Squadron was involved in many different battles throughout the war. The 51 Squadron’s main purpose during the Second World War was as a night-bomber squadron. On the first night of the war, the 51 Squadron made a raid over Germany. This was the first of many times that the 51 squadron would penetrate the German defenses. By the time Terence joined up with the 51 Squadron, they had already participated in many bombings in the war. One notable operation, which Terence may have participated in, was Operation Biting, which was led by Wing Commander PC Pickard. In this operation, the 51 Squadron “captured a captured a complete Wurzburg radar installation at Bruneval, near Le Havre” (RAF Bomber Command). In 1942, the 51 Squadron flew anti-submarine patrols, and then later they were transferred to Transport Command until the end of the war. (RAF Bomber Command).On February 4th, 1944, a plane from the 51 Squadron crashed in Sommerfeld, Germany. Terence was on this plane. The official report said, “a four engine bomber crashed on the southern outskirts of the village, alongside the railway-line. Seven bodies were discovered, members of the Luftwaffe removed wreckage and striped the bodies of identification” (Military Records). On this day, Terence James Griffin gave his life for the service and protection of his comrades, family, and everyone else in the world.Military Service Record
Grave Reference
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Additional information/links
The main headline in "The Manitoban" a Manitoba newspaper on the date that Terence died, was that the H.M.S. Pinafore was starting in a few days. H.M.S. Pinafore was a theatre production, that was about sailors on a ship, the H.M.S. Pinafore (Lubbock). Often shows were shown on the home front to keep morale up during war time.
On the day Terence died, the US 7th Infantry Division captured Kwajalein. Kwajalein is a small island off the coast of Papua New Guinea, near Japan.
View Larger Map
Bibliography
“Armstrong Whitworth Whitley.” aircraft-list.com. N.p., 2007. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://aircraft-list.com/db/images/Armstrong_Whitworth_Whitley/1465/>.
Baxter, Bob, comp. “RAF Medals and Awards.” Bob Baxter’s Bomber Command Index. Bob Baxter, 2006. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.bomber-command.info/medals.htm>.
Bomber Command Museum of Canada. “The British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.” Bomber Command Museum of Canada. N.p., 2012. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.bombercommandmuseum.ca/bcatp.html>.
Government Of Canada, comp. “Canadian Volunteer Service Medal.” Veterans Affairs Canada. Government Of Canada, 4 Oct. 2011. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/collections/cmdp/mainmenu/group04/cvsm>.
Lubbock, Mark. The Complete Book Of Light Opera. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1962. 487-90. Print.
Military Records
Royal Air Force Bomber Command 60th Anniversary. N.p., 6 Apr. 2005. Web. 15 May 2012. <http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h51.html>.
example from LAC